Borno APC chieftain asks court to cancel governorship primaries

Alhaji Idris Mamman, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Borno on Tuesday, filed a case before in a Federal High Court, Maiduguri, seeking the nullification of the governorship primaries election in the state.

Mamman, prayed the court to nullify the nomination of Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum, as the party’s governorship candidate.

Those joined in the case with file Number: FHC/MG/CS/55/2018; are the APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a five-point originating summons filed before the court, the plaintiff prayed for the cancellation of the election conducted on Sept. 30; arguing that election was conducted without the participation of lawful delegates.

Mr Ibrahim Bawa, the lead Counsel to the plaintiff, said that non-delegates participated in the process which was illegal, unlawful, void and null.

Mamman, prayed for an injunction, restraining the APC from recognizing the second respondent as its governorship candidate on the basis of the purported election.

He prayed for an order to declare the plaintiff winner having scored the highest votes in the election.

Speaking to newsmen after filing, Bawa told newsmen that the plaintiff challenged the decision of the APC to submit the names of the second respondent as its governorship candidate in view of gross malpractice and irregularities in the conducted of the election.

“As far as my client is concerned, he won the primaries, in spite of the fact that there were other grounds based on which the primary election ought not to stand. We appealed to the APC committee which took decision adverse to our clients,” he said.

The counsel added that they had filed a counter affidavit before the court in response to the preliminary objection by the first and second respondents.

However, Mr Kahinde Elejah, the counsel to the first and second respondents, prayed the court to strike out the case, arguing that it lack the jurisdiction to hear case.

Elejah, said that the respondents in a preliminary objection asked the court to strike out the case, and also prayed for time extension to enable them to respond to the counter affidavit by the plaintiff.

Trial judge, Justice Jude Dagat, ordered the parties to serve all processes before the court before its next sitting and adjourned the case untill Jan. 17; for hearing.